Michael Gannotti on SharePoint +

So I got up bright and early this morning and to get my morning right fired up my Zune software to select a nice morning wake me up music playlist and ……. Shazaaaam! What greeted me? A Zune update. The update was both my software as well as my Zune players (and yes the update worked for my original 30gb models as well. Gotta love the continued support and updates for them as well as newer editions). I also saw an article on CNET around Zune and some apparent good news for holiday shoppers looking to stretch their money a little further this holiday season. You can check out that article here. There is also a post on the update over at Zunerama “Zune 3.1 out today, with new games, and “like-minded” social feature.” They also have a post on the price drops Price drops on Zune flash players! In it they mention the price cuts are also reflected on Zune Originals. If you haven't checked out Zune Originals you should if you are thinking of getting a new Zune. I purchased my daughters 8gb model there and it was best decision I made. The order arrived promptly complete with laser engraved artwork I chose and custom text. Like she likes to say, it’s one of a kind (and she loves to show it off to all her fellow 10 year old classmates who think its waaaay cooler than a Nano ) Best of all it didn't cost me a dime extra for the customized Zune from Zune Originals.

So right now you might be saying “Mike, just why do you like the Zune so much. Why don’t you get an iPod?”  Fair enough question. Here are my top reasons for LOVING the Zune.

• The Gym – At our health club they have a bank of big screen TVs in the front of all the treadmills/bikes and under each is a brass plate with the FM station number for the audio. With my little 8gb model I can hop on a treadmill and tune in to the channel of my choice courtesy of the FM radio capability in every Zune model. Rockin!
• Wireless – Every Zune has wireless capability and the ability to share content across other Zune's (it’s the social). You can also use the wireless to play multiparty games with other Zune's. Again Rockin!
• Secure Podcast Support – Heck this is a feature EVERYONE should be checking out. You don't need a Zune to download and use the Zune software. With the Zune software comes the ability to subscribe to secured extranet podcast feeds. That’s right you read correctly secured feeds. So if your organization wants to put up anytime anywhere podcasts, oh on a solution like Podcasting Kit for SharePoint, then you can and secure the content while allowing users to use the Zune software to still subscribe and access that content seamlessly. It is what we do here at Microsoft with our own instantiation of the Podcasting Kit, Academy Mobile.
• Zune Pass – Okay I have the Zune pass which gives me access to ALL music on the Zune marketplace for our family Zune's. It is great because I don't have to worry about the kids going on a purchase binge. They just synch what they want and I have a flat fee paid every three months.
• Synch with Media Center Recordings – This is HUGE when heading on family trips. We have Windows Media Center in our house with dual TV tuners and record all sorts of stuff. TV Series, TV movies, etc. The best part is we can synch any and all of those those shows to our Zune's and guess what? Doesn't cost us a dime! :-) I love that and so do the kids… especially the kids who load up their Zune's for family trips.
• The Social – The Zune has a whole corresponding online social experience that you can embed in sites like Facebook and MySpace. Let’s you see and sample what your friends are listening too. It is very cool.
• FM to Marketplace – Okay for me this was ne of the absolute coolest things! As I mentioned previously all Zune's have FM Radio. So There you are listening to an FM station when you here a song you love and gotta have. Right from within the interface you can have it identify the song/artist then, via wireless mind you, check the Zune Marketplace and since I have Zune pass, BAM! grab it. No waiting, writing down on paper, forgetting. Hear/Like/Grab. It’s a beautiful thing.

All right well gotta get on some work waiting for me. I will have more to say on Zune, Xbox 360, and some other Microsoft goodies later. In the meantime if you want to check out what I am listening to these days on my Zune check out my Zune Social by clicking here http://social.zune.net/member/MasterG .

Ciao!

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